Steering-gear and rudder-indicator.



PATENTED NOV. 8, 1904.

W. WEBER. STEERING GEAR AND RUDDBR INDICATOR.

. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 2. 1903.

N0 MOD L.

5 SHEETS-SHEET l.

PATENTED NOV. 8. 1904.

W. WEBER.

STEERING GEAR AND RUDDER INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 2. 1903.

5 SHEETSSHEET 2.

N0 MODEL.

"MW a PATENTED Nov. 8. 1904.

W. WEBER.

STEERING GEAR AND'RUDDER INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 2. 1903.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

N0 MODEL.

PATENTED NOV. 8, 1904.

- W'. WEBER.

STEERING GEAR AND RUDDBR INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 2. 1903.

5 SHEETSSHEBT 4.

N0 MODEL.

No. 774,294. PATENTED NOV. 8, 1904.

W. WEBER.

STEERING GEAR AND RUDDER INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 2. 1903.

N0 MODEL.

5 SHEETS-$111131? 5.

No. 774,294. Patented November 8, 1904.-

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIQE.

WILLIAM WEBER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGN OR TO DANIEL O. WARD,

OF OAK PARK, ILLINOIS. I

STEERING-GEAR AND RUDDER-INDICATOR- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 774,294, dated November 8, 1904. Application filed November 2, 1903. Serial No. 179,526. ITn model.)

To all whom it y w' said valves, the valve-seat being in section. 5

Be it known that I, I/VILLIAM WEBER, aciti- Fig. 17 is a plan of the auxiliary-valve lever. zen of the United States, and a resident of Fig. 18 shows the four connections or nipples Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of of the controller-valve chamber, it being a Illinois, have invented certain new and useful section on line XVIII of Fig- 15. Fig. 19 is Improvements in Steering-Gear and Ruddera plan view of a modified mechanical connec- Indicators, of which the following is aspecition between the motor-piston and the rudderfication. shaft crank. Fig. 20 is a plan view of an- This invention relates to steering-gear for other such modification; and Fig. 21 is a par- IO ships and vessels of various kinds; and the obtial section of the same, taken on line XXI ject is to provide simple and effective means XXI of Fig. 20. by which the-position of the rudder may be Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, 1 is the rudcontrolled and governed independently of or der; 2, its post or shaft; 3, the tiller, to which in combination with the usual hand steering the usual cables (not shown) may be connect- 5 apparatus. ed. a is a crank-arm rigidly secured on the To this end my invention consists in the rudder-shaft 2. 5 is a cylinder set in prox- 5 novel construction, combination, and arrangeimity to the rudder-shaft and mounted, prefment of parts, as hereinafter described and erably, upon a circular bearing, which may be claimed. constructed as a ball-bearing 6, Fig. 3, which 20 Referring now to the accompanying drawprovides for the piston-rod 16' being directly ings, wherein like reference characters indiconnected to the arm 4 without using a cross- 7 cate like or corresponding parts, Figure 1 is head and its guides. A ball-bearing under a diagrammatic elevational View showing the the cylinder will cause it to turn so easily preferred arrangement of my improved apthat it will not interfere with steering by the 5 paratus. Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic plan view hand-wheel in the pilot-house. A stationary of the same omitting the tiller. Fig. 3 is a cylinder having its piston-rod connected to a vertical longitudinal section of the motor-cylpitman, which is in turn connected to the rudinder, also in elevation that portion of the der-crank 4, may be employed in lieu of the rudder-shaft to which the piston is connected oscillatory cylinder and direct-connected pis- 3 and apart of the indicatingmechanism. Fig. ton-rod. Such a construction is shown in a is a plan view of the same parts, the cylin- Fig. 19, in which 63 is the piston-rod, 64 a der being partly broken away. Fig. 5 is a cross-head, for which guides 65 are provided, vertical section of the controller-valve and and 66 is a pitman connecting the cross-head the rudder-indicator. Fig. 6 is a face view to the rudder-crank 4:. In connection with a 35 of the controller-valve looking up, showing fixed cylinder a slotted rudder-crank might the neutral position of the valve in full lines be employed, thereby dispensing with a pitand indicating six other positions thereof by man. Such a construction is shown in Figs. broken radial lines. Fig. 6%; is a plan view 20 and 21. 67 isthe piston-rod, which is conof the rudder-indicator as mounted'on the connected to a cross-head 68, for which guides 69 4 troller-valve chamber. Fig. 7 is a vertical are provided. Alongitudinal slot7 O is formed section of the controller-valve detached, taken in therudder-crank 71, and lying within said on line VII VII of Fig. 6. Figs. 8,9, 10, 11, 12, slot is a block or shoe 72, which is pivotally 13, and let are diagrams showing the position held in the cross-head by means of a vertical of the air-ports in the valve-seat and showpin 73. As the piston-rod is moved either in 45 ing the different openings, closing, and conor out of the cylinder the shoe 72 will turn nections thereof as effected by the positions upon its pin 7 3, and the movement imparted of the valve indicated in Fig. 6. Fig. 15 is to the crank 71 will cause the shoe to slide a front elevation of a device for operating the along the slot 70 either toward or from the auxiliary valves. Fig. 16 is a plan view of end of the crank, while lateral movement of the piston-rod is prevented by guides 69. 7 is a pump or suitable machine for the compression of air. This is connected by a dischargepipe 8 to an air-reservoir 9. 10 is the controller-valve, or, to be exact, is the chamber inclosing the valve, provided with an operating-lever 11 11. A pipe 12 leads from the reservoir 9 to the valve-chamber 10. Also connected to the valve-chamber are two pipes 14, which lead to the motor-cylinder 5 and are connected to opposite ends thereof. An exhaust-pipe 15 is connected to the valve-chamber 10.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4, 16 is the piston of the motor. 17 17 are ports which connect the pipes 14 to the opposite ends of the cylinder. These ports act alternately as inlet and exhaust ports. The ends of the cylinder may be provided with drip-cocks 18 for draining any accumulated water from the interior of the cylinder. The bearing under the cylinder may be of any suitable or preferred construction. Fixed on the ruddershaft above the motor-crank 4 is a sheave 19, adjacent to which are two pairs of pulleys 20, around which passes an indicator cable or wire 21, which leads to the indicator 56. (Shown in Figs. 5 and 6%.) This indicator will be described hereinafter.

The controller-valve will now be described, reference being had to Figs. 5, 6, 6 1-, and 7. 10 is the main valve-chamber, to the bottom of which is secured a casting 25, provided with four nipples 26 27 28 29, to which the air-pipes 12 14 14 15 are respectively connected. 24 represents bolts by which the above-named parts may be secured together. The four nipples register with four ports 12' 14 14 15 through the valve-seat, said ports being shown in plan in Figs. 8 to 14, inclusive. Port 12 may be termed the live port, as it is connected to the compressed-airsupply pipe 12, Fig. 1. The two ports 14 may be termed the motor-ports, they be-.

ing connected to the pipes 14, which lead to the motor cylinder. 15 is the exhaustport, as it communicates with the atmosphere at all times and may be connected to both or either of the motor-ports by turning the controller-valve 30 to certain positions, as hereinafter described. 30 is the controller-valve, which is provided with a three-way port 31 31 31. Crossing under one branch of said port is a port 32, which connects two recesses 33 in the valve. At diametrically opposite points of the face of the valve are openings 34 34 of two ports which intersect each other at 35, Fig. 5, and emerge at 36 and 36, Fig. 6.

Figs. 8 to 14 are diagrams of the valve-seat 23, showing or indicating the operations of the valve 30 in seven different positions thereof. The radial lines in Fig. 6 indicate these positions of the valve as determined by the center line of the valve handle or lever 11.

Substantially duplicate cut-off or auxiliary valves are provided for the motor air-pipes 14. Preferably said valves are seated in the valve-seat 23, as shown in Figs. 15 and 16. By means of these valves the communication between the motor-ports 14 is closed at all times during which it is desired to hold the rudder stationary, or substantially so, asmore fullyreferred to hereinafter. The preferred means for operating the controller-valve and said auxiliary valves is constructed as follows: The controller-wilve is provided with a stem 38, Fig. 5, on the upper end of which is suitably secured a hand-lever 11 11. An expansion-spring 39 may be housed within the stem 38 for providing a suitable pressure between the valve and its seat when the live port is closed. On the bottom of the valve is formed a concentric boss or journal 40, which fits a central opening 41 in the seat 23. The valve may be provided with a spring-pressed friction-shoe 42, which bears against the annular flange 43 at the top of the valve-chamber for the purpose of increasing the force necessary to move the valve or preventing the valve from moving too easily.

In order that the auxiliary valves 37 may be simultaneously operated by the movement of lever 11 11, 1 preferably employ the device shown in Figs. 15 and 16 with rockerarms 44 or equivalent means fixed upon the valve-stems 45, a lever 46 fulcrumed on a bracket 47, and rods 48 connecting the rockerarms to said lever. The outer end of said lever is bent upwardly and provided with a hori- Zontal extension 49, which is adapted to be engaged by the aforesaid hand-lever 11 11, which is jointed at 50 to permit its being broken at that point and turned either up or down. Its downward movement actuateslever 46, draws up rods 48, and thereby rocks the valves 37. These valves are normally open; but when the hand-lever section 11 is fully depressed they are closed, thereby cutting off the air in pipes 14 from the connecting-port 32 for the purpose of preventing the escape of air from either-end of the motor-cylinder at times when the rudder is to beheld. Means, such as one or more springs 51, are provided to automatically open the valves 37 when lever-section 11 is lifted out of engagement with lever 46;

The connections efi'ected by different positions of the controller -valve 30 are as follows, reference being had to Figs. 8 to 14, inclusive, and to Fig. 6: When the valve is in its middle position, (shown in full lines in Fig. 6,) the motor-ports 14 are open, the live port 12 is open and connected to the ports 14, and the exhaust-port 15 is closed, as indicated in Fig. 11. In Figs. 8 to 14 the shaded areas of the ports indicate closure thereof and the dotted lines indicate connections. In this position, a, of the valve the rudder is free to be operated by the steeringwheel in the pilothouse or by other suitable means, as the air which is expelled by motion of the rudder from either end of the motor-cylinder will in this position of the valve pass into the other end of the cylinder through pipes 14: and connecting-port 83 32 33, Fig. 6. Supposing next that the valve has been turned to the left to position I), the connections formed thereby are shown in Fig. 10. One of the motorports remains connected to the live port; but the other motor-port has been closed and the exhaust-port remains closed. This is preparatory to forming an atmospheric connection with the motor-port that'is now closed. The next position, 9, of the valve forms the connections shown in Fig. 9. The port that was closed at I) is now partially connected to the exhaust-port or atmosphere, thus decreasing the air-pressure upon one side of the motorpiston, and the excess of pressure upon the other side thereof causes the pistonto actuate the rudder-say in the port direction. The next position shown (marked 6 in Fig. 6) forms the connections shown in Fig. 8. The live port is now closed and both of the motor ports are connected to atmosphere through the three-way port 31 in the valve.

This permits the air-pressure in the motorcylinder to fall to normal, and in this position also the rudder may be controlled by hand or by electric or hydraulic steering-gear independently. Moreover, this pneumatic gear may be operated simultaneously and in connection with any other form of steering-gear. The reservoir is cut ofi' from the atmosphere, preventingescape of air therefrom. The three right-hand positionsof the valve marked '0, f, and (Z in Fig. 6 correspond to the left-hand positions 6, g, and c, and the efiect upon the rudder is the same except that its movement is reversed, as from port to starboard, or vice versa.

A dial-plate 52 is mounted upon the valvechamber 10, (see Fig. 6% for a plan view thereof,) and the valve-lever is provided with an index 53, which in its operation will register with indicating-marks on the dial-plate corresponding to the principal positions of the valve-lever. Beyond its joint the leversection 11' may be provided with another joint 63,-(see dotted lines in Fig. 5,) whereby the outer section thereof may be laid back upon the indicator-box when not in use.

To hold the rudder in any desired position, it is only necessary to push down the section 11 of the main lever. This Will close the auxiliary valves 37, as already described, and the ends of the motor-cylinder will thus be cut ofi from the atmosphere, the reservoir, and from each other. The air in the cylinder and in pipes 14 being at a high pressure is practically incompressible or is compressihle to such a slight extent that the piston will be held practically immovable so long as the valves 37-are closed.

The air-compressor may be provided with an automatic device for starting and stopping the same, starting it when the air-pressure falls below the required degree and stopping it when the pressure reaches or exceeds that point.

Figs. 5 and 15, in connection with Figs. 3 and 4, illustrate a novel apparatus for keeping the movements of the rudder before the eyes of the pilot or steersman. My preferred arrangement is to mount a supporting-casing 55 upon the valve-chamber 10, as shown in Fig. 5. This supports a casing 56, which contains a gear and pinion 57 and 58, to the latter being secured a pointer 59, which plays above a segmental index 60. The pinion 58 is actuated through bevel-gears 61 from a sheave 62,

around which are wound one or more turns of a small wire or cable 21. This wire or cable is conducted, by means of suitable antifrictionguides, to the aforesaid sheave 19 upon the rudder-shaft 2. I prefer to pass the cable over pulleys 20 and under pulleys 20, as shown in Fig. 3, before it passes around sheave 19. By this means every movement of the rudder will be transmitted to the pointer 59, which is distinctly visible to the steers= man. The diameters of the sheave and gear wheels might be so proportioned that the pointer 59 would follow the movements of the valve-pointer 53, above mentioned.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim as new, and'desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A device of the kind described, and in combination a tank containing a fluid under pressure, a cylinder fitted with a suitable power-applying piston, pipes connecting the ends of said cylinder with said tank, a valve adapted to control the flow o'f fluid in said pipes, provided with an exhaust-opening, a suitable operating-handle, and ports to connect at will either'end of said cylinder to said tank while the other end is connected to said exhaust-opening, or both ends of said cylinder to said tank, or both ends of said cylinder to said exhaust-opening, and an indicator at the Valve, to show the position of said power-piston.

2. A deviceof the kind described, and in combination a tank containing a fluid under pressure, a cylinder fitted with suitable powerapplying piston, pipes connecting the ends of said cylinder with said tank, a valve adapted to control the flow of fluid in said pipes, consisting of a casing connected to said pipes, provided with an exhaust-opening formed therein, a movable part positioned in said casing resiliently pressed against a seat formed therein and provided with a suitable operating-handle, and ports adapted to connect at will either end of said cylinder to said tank while the other end is connected to said exhaust opening, or both ends of said cylinder to said tank, or both ends of said cylinder to said exhaus t-openings, and an indicator at the valve to sho w the position of the power-piston.

IYO

3. A device of the kind described, and in combination a tank containing a fluid under pressure, a cylinder fitted with a suitable power-applying piston, pipes connecting the ends of said cylinder with said tank, a valve adapted to control the flow of fluid in said pipes, provided with an exhaust-opening, a suitable operating-handle, and ports to connect at will either end of said cylinder to said tank while the other end is connected to said exhaust-opening, or both ends of said cylinder to said tank, or both ends of said cylinder to said exhaust-openings, an auxiliary valve connected to one of said cylinder-pipes, adapted, when closed, to prevent the flow of fluid in said pipe, and an indicator at the valve to show the position of said power-piston.

t. A device of the kind described, and in combination a tank containing a fluid under pressure, a cylinder fitted with a suitable power-applying piston, pipes connecting the ends of said cylinder with said tank, a valve adapted to control the flow of fluid in said pipes provided with an exhaust-opening, a suitable operating-handle, and ports to connect at will either end of said cylinder to said tank while the other end is connected to said exhaust-opening, or both ends of said cylinder to said tank, or both ends of said cylinder to said exhaust-opening, a plurality of auxiliary valves, connected to said cylinder-pipe, adapted, when closed, to prevent the flow of fluid in either of said pipes, and an indicator at the valve to show the position of said powerpiston.

5. A device of the kind. described, and in combination a tank containing a fluid under pressure, a cylinder fitted with a suitable power-applying piston, pipes connecting the ends of said cylinder with said tank, a valve adapted to control the flow of fluid in said pipes, consisting of a casing connected to said pipes, provided with an exhaustopening formed therein, a movable part positioned in said casing resiliently pressed against a seat formed therein and provided with a suitable operating-handle, and ports adapted to connect at will either end of said cylinder to said tank while the other end is connected to said exhaust-opening, or both ends of said cylinder to said tank, or both ends of said cylinder to said exhaust-opening, an auxiliary valve connected to one of said cylinder-pipes, adapted when closed, to prevent the flow ot' fluid in said pipe, and an indicator at the valve to show the position of said power-piston.

6. A device of the kind described, and in combination a tank containing a fluid under pressure, a cylinder fitted with a suitable power-applying piston, pipes connecting the ends of said cylinder with said tank, a valve adapted to control the flow of fluid in said pipes, consisting of a casing connected to said pipes, provided with an exhaustopening formed therein, a movable part positioned in said casing resiliently pressed against a seat formed therein, and provided with a suit-able handle, and ports adapted to connect at will either end of said cylinder to said tank while the other end is connected to said exhaust-opening, or both ends of said cylinder to said tank, or both ends of said cylinder to said exhaustopening, a plurality of auxiliary valves, connected to said cylinder-pipes, adapted, when closed, to prevent the flow of fluid in said pipes and an indicator at the valve, to show the position of said power-piston.

'7. A device of the kind described, and in combination a tank containing a fluid under pressure, a cylinder flttedwith a suitable power-applying piston, pipes connecting the ends of said cylinder with said tank, a valve adapted to control the flow of fluid in said pipe, provided with an exhaust-opening, a suitable handle adapted to operate said valve and an auxiliary valve, and ports to connect at will either end of said cylinder to said tank while the other end is connected to said exhaust-opening, or both ends of said cylinder to said tank, or both ends of said cylinder to said exhaust-opening, an auxiliary valve, connected to one of said cylinder-pipes, adapted when closed to prevent the flow of fluid in said pipe, and an indicator at the valve to show the position of said power-piston.

8. A device of the kind described, and in combination a tank containing a fluid under pressure, a cylinder fitted with a suitable power-applying piston, pipes connecting the ends of said cylinder with said tank, a valve adapted to control the flow of fluid in said pipes, provided with an exhaust-opening, a suitable handle adapted to operate said valve and a plurality of auxiliary valves, ports to connect at will either end of said cylinder to said tank while the other end is connected to said exhaust-opening, or both ends of said cylinder to said tank or both ends of said cylinder to said exhaust-opening, a plurality of auxiliary valves, connected to said cylinder-pipes, adapted when closed to prevent the flow of fluid in said pipes and an indicator at the valve to show the position of said powerpiston.

9. A device of the kind described, and in combination a tank containing a fluid under pressure, a cylinder litted with a suitable power-applying piston, pipes connecting the ends of said cylinder with said tank, a valve adapted to control the flow of fluid in said pipes, consisting of a casing connected to said pipes, provided with an exhaust opening formed therein, a movable part positioned in said casing resiliently pressed against a seat formed therein and provided with a suitable handle, adapted to operate said valve and an auxiliary valve, ports adapted to connect at will, either end of said cylinder to said tank while the other end is connected to said exhaust-opening, or both ends of said cylinder to said tank, or both ends of said cylinder to said exhaust-opening, an auxiliary valve connected to one of said cylinder-pipes, adapted when closed to prevent the flow of fluid in said pipe, and an indicator at the valve, to show the position of said power-piston.

10. A device of the kind described, and in combination a tank containing a fluid under pressure, a cylinder fitted with a suitable power-applying piston, pipes connecting the ends of said cylinder with said tank, a valve adapted to control the flow of fluid in said pipes, consisting of a casing connected to said pipes, provided with an exhaust opening formed therein, a movable part positioned in said casing resiliently pressed against a seat formed therein and provided with a suitable handle, adapted to operate said valve and a plurality of auxiliary valves, ports adapted to connect at will, either end of said cylinder to .said tank while the other end is connected to said exhaust-opening, or both ends of said cylinder to said tank, or both ends of said cylinder to said exhaust-opening, aplurality of auxiliary valves connected to said cylinder-pipes adapted when closed to prevent the flow of fluid in said pipes, and an indicator at the valve to show the position of said powerpiston.

11. In a device of the kind described, a valve consisting of a casing, provided with an exhaust-opening, a valve-seat, and a plurality of connections for attaching conducting-pipes, a part positioned within said casing upon said seat, a handle for partially rotating said part thereon, ports formed in said part whereby the passage of a fluid between the pipe connections and said exhaust-opening may be controlled by partially rotating said part upon said seat, in combination with an indicator attached to said casing, adapted to show the position of a movable object, whose movements are controlled by the fluid passing through said valve; substantially as described.

12. In a device of the kind described, a valve consisting of -a casing, provided with an exhaust-opening, a valve-seat, and a plurality of connections for attaching conducting-pipes, a part positioned within said casing resiliently pressed against said seat, ahandle for partially rotating said part thereon, ports formed in said part whereby the passage of a fluid between said pipe connections and said exhaustopening may be controlled by partially rotating said part upon said seat, an indicator attached to said casing, adapted to show the position of a movable object, whose movements are controlled by the fluid passing through said valve; substantially as described.

13. In a device of the kind described, a valve consisting of a casing, provided with an exhaust-opening, a valve-seat, and a plurality of connections for attaching conducting-pipes, an auxihary valve attached to one of said con:

nections for independently controlling the flow of fluid therethrough, a part positioned within said casing upon said seat, a handle for par: tially rotating said part thereon, ports formed in said part whereby the passage of a fluid between said pipe connections and said exhaust-opening may be controlled by partially rotating said part upon said seat, an indicator attached to said casing, adapted to show the position of a movable object, whose movements are controlled by the fluid passing through said valve; substantially as described.

14. In adevice of the kind described, a valve consisting of a casing, provided with an exhaust-opening, a valve-seat, and a plurality of connections for attaching conducting-pipes, an auxiliary valve attached to one of said connections for independently controlling the flow of fluid therethrough, a part positioned within said casing resiliently pressed against said seat, a handle for partially rotating said part upon said seat and operating said auxiliary valve, ports formed in said part whereby the passage of a fluid through said pipe connections and said exhaust-opening may be controlled by partially rotating said part upon said seat, in combination with an indicator attached to said casing, adapted to show the position of a movable object, whose movements are controlled by the fluid passing through said valve; substantially as described.

15. In a device of the kind described, a valve consisting of a casing, provided with an exhaust-opening, a valve-seat, and a plurality of connections 'for attaching conducting-pipes, a plurality of auxiliary valves attached to any of said connections, for independently controlling the flow of fluid therethrough, a part positioned within said casing upon said seat, a handle for partially rotating said part thereon and operating said auxiliary valves, ports formed in said part whereby the passage of a fluid between said pipe connections, and said exhaust-opening may be controlled by partially rotating said part upon said seat, in combination with an indicator attached to said casing, adapted to show the position of a movable object, whose movements are controlled by the fluid passing through said valve; substantially as described.

16. In adevice of the kind described, a valve consisting of a casing, provided with an exhaust-opening, a valve-seat, and a plurality of connections for attaching conducting-pipes, a plurality of auxiliary valves attached to any of said connections for independently controlling the flow of fluid therethrough, a part positioned within said casing resiliently pressed against said seat, a handle for partially rotating said part upon said seat and operating said auxiliary valves, ports formed in said part whereby the passage of a fluid be- IIO tween said pipe connections and said exhaust- In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed port may be controlled by partially rotating my name in the presence of two subscribing sald part upon said seat an indicator attached 1 Witnesses.

to said casing, adapted to show the position l W'ILLIAM WEBER. 5 of a movable object, Whose movements are Witnesses:

sontrolled by the fluid passing through said K. M. IMBODEN,

valve; substantially as described. GHARLEs I. COBB. 

